COVID-triggered Mucormycosis cases surge; Short supply of anti-fungal drugs

Many states in India reported having patients with Mucormycosis, also called Black Fungus infection which is triggered by COVID-19, specifically in patients having conditions such as diabetes and few others. This is an invasive fungal infection of the sinuses in Coronavirus patients and it led to many deaths off late reportedly. The fungal infection has become the cause of concern for hospitals. To add more to the crises led by pandemic, the hospitals apparently reported having a short supply of the life-saving drug Amphotericin-B in its liposomal form.

Many patients developing mucormycosis continue to be Covid-19 positive, leaving little or no chance for treatment. As per the estimates, as many as 52 people in India so far have been succumbed to death. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope apparently stated that there were 1,500 cases of black fungus in the state. Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and few other regions also have reported having these cases. Declaring black fungus as a notified disease, the state health departments started directing all the hospitals to mandatorily report cases. In addition, the states have also started urging the centers for more doses of Amphotericin B.

According to a report by The India Express, in a Gujarat High Court session, AG Trivedi submitted before the division bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Bhargav Karia that the state has placed orders for 1,24,430 vials of Amphotericin B in both liposomal and lyophilized form, of which 26,000 are of the preferred liposomal variety that costs about Rs 2,000 more than its lyophilized form. The AG submitted that the state will bear the cost of approximately Rs 15 crore.

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